SBA 7(a) Eligibility for Company With International Operations?
Hi all!
Looking for insight from anyone who has navigated SBA lending with international operational exposure.
I'm evaluating a business where:
- The majority of value-added activity (manufacturing + core processing) happens overseas through supplier partners
- The finished product is sold internationally (no meaningful U.S. customer base)
- The company operates from the U.S. with 5 out of 6 employees based here (management, customer service, sales support)
- Revenue flows through the U.S. entity
- The U.S. team directs operations and owns the customer relationships, but fulfillment is international
Question:
Would this structure likely qualify for SBA 7(a) financing? Or does the absence of a domestic customer base and majority of value creation occurring abroad make SBA approval unlikely?
If you’ve closed a deal with similar characteristics (international production + international revenue, but U.S. corporate HQ & employees), I’d love to hear your experience — particularly how lenders viewed:
- U.S. job creation / retention requirements
- SBA rules related to foreign operations and export revenue
- Whether a U.S.-based operating footprint was enough to satisfy eligibility
Any guidance or lender recommendations familiar with this setup would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!